Important Attributes Of An Ice Hockey Referee Whistle

Although it's small in size, there is no piece of gear that is more important for an ice hockey referee than their whistle. This device allows them to stop the play upon noticing an infraction, which is critical to protecting the integrity of the game and keeping players safe. If you've recently signed up for training as an ice hockey referee, you'll want to purchase the right whistle. There are all sorts of referee whistles on the market, but you need to ensure that the one you buy is specifically for use during ice hockey. Here are three important attributes of an ice hockey referee whistle.

Finger Ring

In some sports, including soccer, it's common for the referee to wear a whistle on a lanyard around their neck. This isn't safe during ice hockey, given the speed of the game. Instead, you'll want to shop for a whistle that is equipped with a finger ring. This curved piece of metal is designed to slide over your index and middle fingers, positioning the whistle on the tops of the fingers. The ring will be tight enough to stay in place as you skate, and you can quickly blow the whistle by simply raising your hand to your lips.

Rubber Tip

While you'll see metal referee whistles for some sports, you should be aware that the metal can get very cold inside of a chilly hockey arena. Some ice hockey referee whistles can indeed be made of metal, but the best products have a rubber tip on the end of the whistle into which you blow. Even if it costs a slight bit extra for a product with this tip, you'll find that it's a lot more comfortable to use because the rubber won't get nearly as cold as the metal of the whistle.

Black Color

Referee whistles are available in many different colors, and some sports officials favor bright-colored whistles that stand out. In hockey, you'll want to choose a whistle that is black. This color will be a good visual fit with your uniform, given that you'll be wearing black pants, a black and white shirt, a black helmet, and black skates. A bright color wouldn't look as professional, which isn't what you want when you're in a position of authority. To view a selection of ice hockey referee whistles that possess these attributes, visit a sporting goods online retailer.

Visit a shop to buy a whistle such as an ACME Thunderer referee whistle.